Letters to Annie: Choose Wise Role Models

Dear Annie,

            It’s been awhile since I write any letter to you. I’m sorry. I’ve been very busy lately with the student ministry and my writings. My books will be published next year. I’ll be back to see you soon and celebrate together this achievement with thanksgivings and prayer together. It will be fun! Oh, Annie, during one of the retreat last month, I have made a decision to share our good news of romantic relationship with one of my well-trusted colleagues. We talked man-to-man and I asked for his advice and wise counselling. He also guide me in my journey as Christ follower and leader to young people. I consider him as my mentor. Maybe I will introduce him to you soon dear.

            Early of this year, I realized of how important it is for us to have and choose wise role models. To effectively strengthen our faith and our relationships, we have to choose role models whose faith in God is strong. The Bible encourage us: “Spend time with the wise and you will become wise” (Proverbs 13:20). Never think that we can guide our own lives without the help of others; and never thought that we’re too spiritual that we don’t need any guidance.

Annie, we need role models. When we emulate godly people, we become a more godly person ourselves. But not just anyone, we must choose wisely. “Do not open you heart to every man,” writes Thomas A’ Kempis, “but discuss your affairs with one who is wise and who fears God.” We should seek out mentors, who, by their words and their presence, make us a better person and a better Christian. Howard Hendricks pointed out that “the effective mentor strives to help a man or woman discover what they can be in Christ and then holds them accountable to become that person.”

            Today, if you don’t have any role models, as a gift to yourself, select from your friends, church members and family members, a mentor whose judgment you trust. A mentor don’t have to be perfect (nobody is perfect, after all) or flawless or a very influential person. But he or she must be a mature Christian, growing disciple, wise in applying the Word into actions, well thought of inside and outside the Church and reverent fear of the Lord. Choose your spiritual mentor or mentors. Choose your friends wisely too. Bill Hybels assured that “God often keeps us on the path by guiding us through the counsel of friends and trusted spiritual advisors”.

Listen carefully to your mentor’s advice and be willing to accept that advice, even if accepting it requires effort or pain, or both. Remember, their advice is not flawless or absolute and may sometime impractical and may not have all of the answers. But by all mean consider your mentor or mentors to be God’s gift to you. Ask, listen, and learn. As for any other God’s gifts, use this gift for the glory of Christ’s Kingdom. I pray you’ll have wise role models to follow.

I’ll try my best to be your spiritual mentor,

And you’ll somehow be my mentor in the area of my weaknesses.

But above all let both of us choose Lord Jesus Christ as our Supreme Role Model.

            Akui nyalam ikak,

Richard

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus tells the Message Plainly, Are You Listening?

“From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead” (Matthew 16:21, NLT).

After Peter confessed that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (16:16), the phrase “from then on” marks a turning point in Jesus’ ministry. If in the beginning of the Gospel story Jesus announced that the Kingdom of Heaven was near, here he points a new emphasis on his own death and resurrection. At this time in their association with Jesus, the disciples hadn’t understood fully Jesus’ true purpose because of their ideas of what the Messiah should be and do. Although they acknowledged Jesus as Messiah, they still thought this meant Jesus would free Israel from Rome and set up an earthly kingdom (for this was what many false messiahs tried to do, but failed). In reality, far from conquering, in the world’s view he and his disciples would be conquered.

So Jesus began teaching “plainly” and specifically about what would happen. Jesus would not be the dominating and powerful Messiah because he first had to “suffer many terrible things… and… be killed.” (Jesus’ first coming was in humility; his second coming will be the exact opposite). For any mere human king, death would be the end. Not so with Jesus! Death would be only the beginning, for “on the third day he would be raised from the dead.” Jesus couldn’t said it more clearly. Yet we’ll soon see that the disciples still didn’t understand, either because they weren’t listening very closely or because what Jesus was saying didn’t make sense to them.

Think about this: People often say they can’t understand the Bible – that they get confused by various sections of the Scriptures. Even long-time believers can have trouble interpreting certain parts. But God has plainly spoken to us through his Word – we just have to be listening. Certainly some passages can be more difficult to understand than others, but most people have trouble obeying what they know God is saying. The Ten Commandments and Jesus’ statement about being the only way to the Father (John 14:6), for example, are quite clear. As you read Scripture, ask the Holy Spirit to prepare your heart and open your eyes; then look for the plain teachings you can believe and obey. As for the plain, essential teachings, don’t make excuses.

It’s not about what you don’t understand that matter,

But as you can immediately understand and plainly explained to you – do it and obey.

And then God will open your eyes and understanding more of His truths to you.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus, Aku Sedia Deka Mending ka Penemu Enggau Runding Nuan

“Ko Jesus bejako enggau orang ti mati berang sapiak, ‘Mansang ka moa kitu.’ Udah nya ko iya nanya orang mayoh, ‘Nama utai ti di-asoh Allah Taala kereja kitai leboh Hari Sabat? Nulong, tauka ngemedis ka orang? Ngidup ka seput mensia tauka munoh nyawa ia?’ Tang sida nadai bejako saleka. Jesus ringat leboh iya merening sida, tang iya mega lalu sinu meda sida, laban sida kelalu kieh sereta salah. Udah nya ko iya bejako enggau orang, ‘Unjor ka berang nuan.’ Orang nya ngunjur ka berang iya, lalu berang iya suman nadai utai ngawa. Nya alai sida orang Parisi lalu angkat ari kanisa terus baum enggau bala anembiak Herod, ngiga jalai kena ngelaban Jesus lalu munoh iya” (Mark 3:3-6, Berita Manah Ka Rebak Diatu).

[“Berang sapiak” bermaksud tangan lumpuh sebelah]. Leboh Hari Sabat, Tuhan Jesus tama ka dalam kanisa tauka balai gempuru (rumah sembiang orang Juda). Maya nya bala orang Parisi endang deka nekan ka Jesus ngereja utai ti salah awak ka sida ulih nangkap Iya. Bala orang Parisi kieh amat ati. Sida rindu ka runding diri aja lalu ngumbai samoa orang bukai salah.

Bisi dua macham pengringat ngau dua macham runding dalam crita tu: 1) “Jesus ringat leboh iya merening sida” orang Farisi baka nya. Iya ringat tang nemu nagang pengringat Iya enggau manah. Dalam pengringat Jesus, Iya mega “sinu meda sida”; 2) Bala orang Farisi “kelalu kieh sereta salah.” Pengringat sida enda di-tagang sida lalu mai sida begedi. Jesus deka ngidup ka orang, tang kategal pengringat orang Farisi deka munoh orang. Dalam kedua-dua chunto tu, nama macham pengringat nuan? Nya alai bisi utai ti di-pelajar kitai ari Injil Mark tu: Enti orang enggai berubah runding, nya ukai laban nadai orang ngajar sida. Jesus nemu amai ngajar tang sida bala orang Farisi tetap enggai berubah. Lapa? Laban sida ngumbai runding diri sigi (sabaka tauka manah agi ari) runding Allah Taala empu. Tu salah mai!

Kati ko tua ulih di-ajar? Kati tua mending ka orang, tauka arap ka runding diri aja lalu ngumbai iya badas ari samoa? Ingat anembiak Apai ti di-serga: Kitai patut baroh ati, lalu nemu diri kurang bepenemu. Buka ati kitai lalu sedia deka mending ka penemu Allah Taala. Baka nya kitai ulih nitih ka jalai-Iya – ukai jalai diri empu. Baroh ka ati laban mayoh pengawa ti jai bendar baka perang, bebunoh, sigi digaga orang laban sida ngumbai nya peneka Allah Taala tang sebenar iya datai ari runding diri empu ti bedosa. Ingat mega, enti kitai ngumbai diri nerima pesan Allah Taala, anang arap ka diri aja tang padah ka pesan nya ngagai raban Kristian ti bukai ti ulih di pechaya awak ka sida ngabas pesan nya, enggai ka kitai arap ka runding diri empu aja.

Sembiang

O Tuhan Jesus, pengingin ati aku suah salah laban enda di-tagang enggau runding ti manah. Iring runding aku, lalu tulong aku selalu nitih ka iring Nuan. Asoh aku baroh ati lalu mending ka runding orang Kristian ti bukai ti bepenemu dalam jako Tuhan, laban nya meh jalai Nuan ngiring ka aku. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Keep Your Heart Pure

Dear Annie,

            Remember you said you love a man who love God more that he can’t look elsewhere but God thus remain faithful to you? To tell you the truth, I feel the pressure. Ha2 But then it is a good and godly pressure because I tend to love you more than God himself, and that is not just the ultimate sin against God but I believe that it is the cause of unfaithfulness in any relationships. For the reminder, I thank you. I honestly appreciate it. I love you more today.

            Annie, I also want to remind you (and myself) about this: You’re near and dear to God. He loves you more than you can imagine, and He wants the very best for you. And one more thing: God wants you to guard your heart. I read in Titus 1:15 that “Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are defiled.” It is not enough to keep our minds and bodies pure but our hearts also. Luci Swindoll writes, “Those whose hearts are pure are the temples of the Holy Spirit.”

            Keep your heart pure. Every day we’re faced with choices… lots of them. You can do the right thing, or not. You can tell the truth, or not. You can be kind and generous and obedient, or not. “Spiritual truth is discernible only to a pure heart, not to a keen intellect,” reminds Oswald Chambers, “It is not a question of profundity of intellect, but of purity of heart.” As you know very well Annie, the world today offer us countless opportunities to let down our guard and, by doing so, let the devil do his dirty works. Be watchful and obedient to God. I think the best way to guard your heart is by giving it to your Heavenly Father – it is safe with Him. Amen.

Annie, accept God’s love, and love God in return.

God loves you for who you are, not because of the things you’ve done.

Even though mine is not equal to God’s everlasting love…

In my humanity, I love you very much.

I miss to hear your voice,

Richard

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Our Wired Lives on Facebook Series: #4 Be Your Real Self Online and Off

Currently I’m reading Randi Zuckerberg’s book Dot Complicated: Untangled Our Wired Lives (Harper-Collins Publishers, 2013). As a conclusion of oneself identity online and offline, she concluded:

“As is the case with any technology or tool, it’s up to people to make the most out of the tech, to utilize it in a way that enhances their lives and relationships instead of detracts from them. Technology can make our lives more interesting, but it’s not going to solve all our problems, and as we’ve seen, it will probably even create a few.

            It’s a common complaint that people are beginning to see the world only through the lenses of their camera phones, as if those screens were more “real.” At concerts, I’ve seen well-meaning souls watch an entire show play out on the shaky screens they’re holding above their heads, rather than the stage in front of them. I’ve seen people so busy Instagramming a moment that they miss truly experiencing it.

            Keep in mind that an Internet with real identities and standard practices of behaviour doesn’t have to be a boring place or a police state. It just needs to mirror how you’d behave in a similar situation offline. If you’re at your parents’ house for Thanksgiving, it’s generally inappropriate to down a row of tequila shots, slap your parents’ friend on the back, and yell, ‘Woooo! Spring break!’ Of course, if you’re celebrating Thanksgiving in Cancun and crazy Uncle Al is in an especially ‘festive’ spirit, then by all means woooo away. A call for mindfulness, compassion, and etiquette online, which mirrors the standards expected of us in civil society, is not a call for a woooo-free world. The point is that as our online lives have become inseparable from our offline lives, we need a set of rules, taboos, and guidelines that recognizes there are real people using their real identities on the other side of the screen.

            Some things are cool on spring break that are not cool on Thanksgiving Day. There may be some awful places on the Internet, which don’t deserve a mention here. You may see some things you don’t want to see, things for which your retinas will never forgive you and that may be acceptable only in those contexts, within of course the bounds of legality. But that doesn’t mean there are no standards of behaviour to be had anywhere online.

            We have to get smarter not only about that we publish but also about what we, as the recipients of our friends’ information, do with potentially sensitive material posted by others.

            Above all, you need to be careful who you choose as your friends, whether offline or online. As my Christmas Poke photo story shows, there’s no privacy or security setting in the world that can save you from a friend’s bad judgment.

            We can be our real selves online and off. We don’t have to be afraid to share. It doesn’t have to be so complicated. And we can leverage technology in many positive ways to make a real and meaningful impact on the world.

            We are truly the most empowered generation in history. Technology allows us to communicate, collaborate, and understand the world around us in ways unthinkable even a few years ago, with this new power, we can solve age-old problems and create new opportunities for everyone.

            All you have to do is to be yourself.

[Long excerpt from Dot Complicated: Untangling Our Wired Lives by Randi Zuckerberg (Harper-Collins Publishers, 2013), page 82-83. Buy this book!]

Let technology supposed to help us, not lord it over us.

Let technology fill our lives with meaning, rather than fear.

Let technology empowered us, rather than overwhelmed us.

Let technology become tools of opportunity to glorify God in everything,

rather than promote insecurity.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus takes All the Credit for Our Salvation

“Then [Jesus] asked them, ‘But who do you say I am?’ ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being’” (Matthew 16:15-17, NLT).

When Jesus asked, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” we can sense the sudden tension in the air. They had been brainstorming the different ways the crowds were identifying Jesus. Now Jesus was asking them for their own view. First, I assume, there was silence. Then Peter, the spokesman for all the disciples said: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus did not ask Peter what he meant (I wonder what would it be, right?). Depending on the Bible translation, the first title in Peter’s declaration may be “Christ” or “Messiah.” “Christ” comes from transliterating the Greek term Khristos, which along with Messiah (Hebrew) means “the Anointed One.” Peter was placing Jesus “the Anointed One” in the singular category of the Promised One from the Old Testament prophesies. Peter (that mean all the disciples, I assume) got the title right, even if he didn’t fully understand what it meant. Peter would have to discover what each of us eventually discovers – we can have the right answer about God, but there will always be more to God than our answers. Even our right answers are only a glimpse of all God has to reveal.

Jesus affirmed Peter and his answer, using his formal name – “Simon, son of John.” He declared Peter “Blessed,” not because he had given the right answer but because that right answer had been given to him by Jesus’ “Father in heaven.” God demonstrated his favour on Peter’s life by giving him the insight to speak the right answer.

Think about this: We also have been given the same insight from God’s Holy Spirit, so that we can acknowledge Jesus as the Promised One, the Son of God. We are, therefore, blessed by God. God’s Word makes it clear that we can’t claim to generate the faith it takes to believe in Jesus. The Scripture stated, “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). When it comes to receiving credit for our salvation, we get none – all of it goes to Christ. Jesus himself said, “[My] Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.” In that moment when we believe, that simple act of faith is itself a gift from God. Amen – so be it.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie:Trust God's Plans and Leave Our Present and Future Relationships to Him

Dear Annie,

            Can I ask you one thing, why you always say “God’s plan for us” in all of your letters to me? I’m a motivational readers and self-help bookers that always emphasis on human strengths and our ability to change our destiny, why you use the phrase “God’s plan”? (Is it because you’re influenced by Jamie Sullivan in A Walk to Remember novel?) At first, I’m not easy with the idea of “God’s plan” and I’m troubled by it because I have my own plan… So I searched the Scripture and after one week… I was convince that God really do have a good plan for our lives.

            The Bible makes it clear: God have a plan – a very big and good plan – and we’re (in fact all the redeemed sinners) are important parts of that plan. “You will teach me how to live a holy life,” write the Psalmist praising God, “Being with you will fill me with joy; and your right hand I will find pleasure forever” (Psalm 16:11). But here is the catch: God won’t force His plans upon us; we got to figure things out for ourselves… or not. Not figure it alone but with Him. C.S. Lewis puts it this way: “I don’t doubt that the Holy Spirit guides your decisions from within when you make them with the intention of pleasing God. The error would be to think that He speaks only within, whereas in reality He speaks also through Scripture, the Church, Christian friends, and books.”

            Annie, as followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, we should ask ourselves this question: “How closely can I make my plans match God’s plans?” and “Is our relationship is following or according to God’s plan?” I find that the more closely we manage to follow the path that God intends for our lives, the better. So if we have questions or concerns about our relationships, we must first take them to God in prayer. If we have trouble with planning for the future together, in which we will, we must consult God as we establish our priorities. Annie, thank you for always whispers “God’s plan” to my ears. As we trust the present and the future in God’s plan, we must turn every concern over to our Heavenly Father, and sincerely seek His guidance – prayerfully, earnestly, and often.

I like this quote by Elisabeth Elliot: “The God who orchestrates the universe has a good many things to consider that have not occurred to me, and it is well that I leave them to Him.” What a wise counsel!

Thank you dear Annie, my love.

I love you for always say “God’s plan for us”.

I love you for who you are.

In God’s plan we trust,

Richard

Amen?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.